the time; what remains, then, is the intention that it be a prayer. For this reason, a principle mentioned by the jurists should be stated here: “Whatever is found not to be due becomes voluntary—for example, a missed prayer that in fact was not missed, or an obligatory prayer whose time had not yet begun.” (1)

An example of this is a person who thinks that he owes a missed prayer, so he prays it, then realizes that he had already prayed it previously. That prayer is therefore voluntary.

An example of an obligatory prayer whose time had not yet begun is when someone prays Maghrib, thinking that the sun has set, then it becomes clear that it had not set. This prayer is voluntary, and he must repeat it as an obligatory prayer after sunset.

If a legally accountable person remains within its time long enough to pronounce the opening takbir, then he ceases to be legally accountable, or a woman menstruates, and then he becomes legally accountable or she becomes pure, they must make it up ............

His statement, “If a legally accountable person remains”: a legally accountable person is one who is mature and sane. He is described in this way because acts of worship are binding upon him. Acts of worship are a form of obligation and legal responsibility, even if they involve no hardship; nevertheless, a person is bound by them.

His statement, “within its time long enough to pronounce the opening takbir,” means: long enough to say the opening takbir. This is based on the view that what counts as having caught the prayer is having caught the opening takbir.

His statement, “then he ceases to be legally accountable,” means that he becomes insane after having been sane, or loses consciousness.

His statement, “or a woman menstruates, and then he becomes legally accountable or she becomes pure; they must make it up,” means: after the time for the prayer has entered by an amount sufficient for the opening takbir, a woman ceases to be legally accountable—not because a condition is absent, but because a factor preventing the obligation is present, namely menstruation; otherwise